The Springboks have made eight changes from the XV humbled against Japan as they try to get their World Cup campaign back on track, with Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar dropping to the bench.
It appears that punishment will not suffice for enraged South African rugby fans, who seem to hold the Ulster scrum-half responsible for Saturday’s 34-32 loss in Brighton.
The #Springboks bench to face @manusamoa on Saturday @rugbyworldcup #rwc2015 #homegroundadvantage pic.twitter.com/1thNe6BheW
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 23, 2015
Ahead of Saturday’s Pool B clash with Samoa in Villa Park, head coach Heyneke Meyer has given Fourie du Preez his first start of the tournament, alongside new fly-half Handré Pollard.
But the decision to retain Pienaar in the matchday 23 has bewildered lots of angry, angry fans.
"Any chance that Ruan Pienaar can get tied down to the bench on Saturday?" – If I was at the Bok press conference. #RWC2015
— Ben Karpinski (@followthebounce) September 23, 2015
WTF does Heyneke see in Ruan Pienaar? feel for Rudy Paige #RWC2015 #bokke
— Carl Anhaeusser (@kalahari2) September 23, 2015
@Springboks Ruan Pienaar out of the starting 15, hopefully he will be out of matchday 23 by next week!
— Albert (@BassonAlbe) September 23, 2015
Has Ruan Pienaar been axed yet? If so it's taken longer than it takes for his pass to reach our 10…
— #AlMac (@AlMacfarlane) September 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/Rudi_Zeeman/status/646545017285267456
Ouch. Pienaar will be keen to return to the loving embrace of the Belfast faithful at Kingspan Stadium if things don’t improve for himself and the Springboks soon.
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